Are you seeing your Instagram losing followers? This worrying trend has been caused by new competitors, changes to Instagram’s algorithm, and content rules that pushed many users away. So what went wrong, and can Instagram fix things before it’s too late? Let’s find out the answers from our experts!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Instagram Losing Followers – Causes and Solutions

Inactive Accounts

Having many inactive or dormant accounts following you means those users are essentially “dead weight.” They don’t engage with your content by liking, commenting, or sharing, which can hurt your posts’ visibility and reach on the Instagram algorithm.

Instagram Losing Followers — *There are many inactive users on this photo-sharing platform*

Additionally, the platform periodically removes or deactivates inactive accounts as part of its process to cut down on fake, spam, or bot profiles. When those cleared-out inactive accounts disappear from your followers list, your follower count visibly drops.

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Frequency of Posting

People follow accounts expecting to see new content regularly. If you go dormant for long periods, your posts won’t appear in their feeds. When you finally post again, it may only reach a few of your current followers if the algorithm perceives low engagement with your account.

The ideal is to strike a balance—post consistently but not so much that you become overbearing. A good rule of thumb is one post per day or around three to seven posts weekly. This keeps you visible to your audience without overdoing it.

Engagement with Followers

When you post new content but fail to interact with the people commenting and liking your posts, it sends the message that you don’t value your audience.

Followers want to feel seen and heard, not just broadcasted. They’ll feel unimportant if their comments go unanswered and their engagement is ignored.

So make an effort to respond, ask questions, like comments, and really connect with your audience. It will go a long way in keeping followers happy, engaged, and eager to follow your account.

Repetitive Content

If all your posts start looking the same – same angles, same filters, same settings – it becomes boring and stale for your audience. They’ll quickly lose interest if you’re not offering any variety.

Over time, your followers will start skimming past your posts because they all blend together. Their engagement will drop, and the platform will be less motivated to continue showing your content to them.

Switching up your content – angles, backgrounds, editing styles, and formats like videos/reels – keeps things exciting and leaves your followers wanting more. Variety is critical to preventing unfollows.

Not Using Hashtags

Hashtags are one of the main ways new audiences can discover your content on Instagram. Your existing followers likely care about specific interests or topics tied to certain hashtags. When you neglect using these relevant hashtags, your posts also provide less value to your current audience.

So, while it may seem minor, consistent hashtag usage across your posts is crucial for attracting new followers and keeping current ones interested and engaged.

Being Too Promotional

Most people follow you for visually appealing, entertaining, or informative content. They crave posts that provide value – inspiration, education, humor, behind-the-scenes glimpses, or a sense of community. But if your feed is an endless stream of “Buy This!” it’ll quickly turn followers off.

A better approach is to pepper in promotions sparingly amidst various other content types. Build audience loyalty first through value and authenticity before attempting to sell to them. A heavily promotional approach is a surefire way to lose followers fast.

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Competition And Shifting Trends

The social media landscape is highly crowded and competitive these days. When something novel and exciting like TikTok or X (Twitter) comes along, it can pull users away from more established apps like Instagram as they get caught up in the new craze.

Trends on Instagram also change quickly. If your content doesn’t evolve with these trends, followers might lose interest. Keeping up with the latest trends and incorporating them into your posts can help retain and attract followers.

While you don’t want to chase every fleeting fad, you need to keep a pulse on shifting user behaviors and macro trends. You must diversify your content and adapt to competition and evolving preferences to avoid followers jumping ship over time.

Algorithm Changes

The platform’s algorithm decides which posts are shown to users. When the algorithm changes, it can affect how often your content appears in your followers’ feeds.

For example, if Instagram’s algorithm update favors video content like Reels over static photos, an account that only shares photo posts will suffer. Their content will be bumped further down feeds in favor of video. Frustrated followers may unfollow if they barely see that account’s posts.

Stay informed about algorithm updates to minimize the impact and adjust your strategy accordingly. Focus on creating high-quality, engaging content and interacting with your audience to maintain visibility.

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Tools Help Grow Followers On Instagram

Content Creation & Scheduling:

Canva helps create visually appealing posts and stories with easy-to-use design templates.
Later allows you to schedule posts and stories, ensuring consistent posting at optimal times.
Buffer—another scheduling tool that lets you plan and publish posts across multiple social media platforms.

Analytics & Insights:

Instagram Insights—a built-in tool for Business and Creator accounts—provides detailed analytics on follower demographics, engagement rates, and post-performance.
Hootsuite Analytics offers comprehensive analytics to track growth, engagement, and the effectiveness of your social media strategy.
Sprout Social provides advanced social media analytics and reporting tools to help understand audience behavior and content performance.

Engagement Tools:

Combin: This is a tool for finding and engaging with relevant users, helping to increase your visibility and follower count.
Awario: It helps monitor brand mentions and conversations across social media, allowing you to engage with potential followers.
Kicksta: By using AI to interact with targeted users on your behalf, this tool is helpful for growing your followers organically.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, factors such as competition, shifting trends, and algorithm changes can lead to Instagram losing followers. For those looking to jumpstart their social media presence or regain lost followers, visit Mid-Man, a reliable site for trading quality social media accounts.